Texas has the greatest number of poor, uninsured adults who will fall in a "coverage gap" created by states that chose not to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, according to a report released Wednesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. One million of the 5.2 million Americans who won't have health insurance options available under the new law reside in Texas, according to the report.

“The ACA was passed with the goal of filling in gaps in the availability of affordable health coverage in the United States,” the report states. “With many states opting not to ...

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share
your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues
of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other
offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting
advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must
be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed.
Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

We need jobs, NOT Obamacare. The problem in acquiring healthcare is not being able to pay for it. Premiums are already skyrocketing due to Obamacare, and private insurance is being purposely ruined, so there is no recourse other than Obamacare.

THIS IS PLANNED!

People who have money are now being forced to pay extra to provide insurance for Welfare dependents. Obama is using Obamacare to create a Socialist state of government-dependent serfs.

People who are able-bodied should rightfully be forced to work for everything they get, not allowed to be moochers and deadbeats.

Has Wendy Davis said she would open up a statewide expansion of Medicaid? I feel like that could get dicey for her. Texans seem uninterested in voting in our best interests and I'm sure her endorsement of an expansion will be used against her.

This is the sad commentary about TEA-types and combative Republicans controlling states. Texas is an example! There are 5.2 million reasons to oust TEA-types and combative Republicans from office in every state across the nation. Too many congressional-types are millionaires and have no clue about the daily exercises the middle class and the poor go through to subsist! The Supreme Court over-stepped and opted the laws put in place to protect the poorest of our brethren. It is sad that half of the uninsured in the coverage gap live in Texas (1 million), Florida (763,980) and Georgia (409,350) — largely because those states have the most uninsured and limited Medicaid eligibility today by state legislation. That provide gross excess compensation to administrators of those benefits stipulated for the poor!( http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/State-takes-charity-care-money-from-UTMB-4398633.php )These are mostly southern states where Gerrymandering has minimized minority voting. All has been carefully orchestrated by the Republicans over the past 50-60 years to guarantee white representation. If we work together in every state to get out and gather people into the voting process, we can make a huge difference. Too many people allow others to vote and that is how TEA-types gained so many votes. You and I will have to do our part, with boots on the ground and get deputized to register people to vote, get registration forms, camp out at gatherings, grocery stores, churches and fire stations to raise the level of participation in the political arena. Check with your state and county requirements. Stay within the law. The 2014 Mid-term is a-coming! As is 2016, and 2018! V.O.T.E.(Vote Out The Encumberance) Sweep the states and Congress clean in 2014! YOUR VOTE ONLY COUNTS WHEN YOU VOTE! IF YOU DO NOT VOTE, THAT IS JUST LIKE VOTING FOR THE OPPOSITION!

Hmmmm, Obama tries to force a problem down everyone's throat that doesn't address everyone? No worries, his plan calls for covering 30 million more people without adding a single dr, nurse or clinic too. Yeah, no worries, his unthinking minions will simply blame the right.

Every working Texan that has payroll deduction and an employer matching amount taken out of their income for Medicare will not see 70 billion dollars returning to our state because of the decision not to expand healthcare in our insurance industry controlled state. The GOP and their darling Rick Perry. Wendy can't get in fast enough.

Reports showing in Texas a 27 year old will face DOUBLE their old premiums with the new Obamacare plan. Yeah, didn't see any of these problems did we???? http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/10/enrollment-in-obamacare-exchanges-how-will-your-health-insurance-fare

“all men are created equal, ... they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." but only if they can afford to pay.True or False?

Whether you are for it or against it, everybody trying to pass off data about ACA is being naive. ACA is an enormous bill and it's impossible to know what will be enforced and how. Bills this monolithic rarely help normal people in lieu of big business. A question for those who think Obama is this egalitarian man of the people: did he not sign the Farmer Assurance Provision, a bill written by Monsanto lawyers, into law. Obama is a politician beholden to the same big business interests as the "non-wacko bird" Republicans.

This wouldn't of been an issue now if Medicaid had be taken over by the Federal Government entirely and would of been better expanded. All those employees who enroll people into Medicaid in all states would be Federal employees not state employees. This Medicaid is a Federal Issue and it still is.

My son falls into this gap. He could move to California to get coverage (not going to happen) or he can sign up for coverage on the exchange with no subsidy and I would have to pay for it. I understand why the state did not expand Medicaid, they feel it is a Trojan horse that will lead to state bankruptcy. I’m against obamacare but at the same time want coverage for my son. Obamacare is doomed and will fail due to all the young invincibles refusing to sign up.

Yes, everything is bigger in Tejas! The biggest group of uninsured, the biggest pool of lunatic politicians, a bigger group of religious fanatics, the biggest group of teenage mothers with unplanned babies, the biggest group of sheeple led by Cruz and company and of course the biggest ego on planet earth. And with all of that why not?

I'd say that nobody cares to mess with any of that! It's all yours to keep all to yourselves!

Even Kentucky has made this work..The gov. of Kentucky said he worked on this way before it was time and millions are now on this The AFC and he is delighted..but of course we have Perry whose intent now and in the future to bring harm to the citizens of the state of Texas ...Go Windy Go.

CRUZ: “THE DREAM OF KEEPING POOR PEOPLE FROM SEEING A DOCTOR MUST NEVER DIE” http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/10/cruz-the-dream-of-keeping-poor-people-from-seeing-a-doctor-must-never-die.html

The Feds forbid means testing for Medicaid, beginning in 2014. So as long as you can keep your income low, you get Medicaid, no matter how much you own. You are not required to work or look for work. Why should we subsidize healthy adults without children?

You either value a healthy population or profits for insurance companies. Right now we know where Texas stands. The highest premiums and the most uninsured. How dare Obama mandate insurers spend a set percentage of premiums be spent in actual healthcare after profits and refund the difference. Unless its changed recently Texas was keeping the refunds thanks to the Perry appointed, industry insiders, insurance commission.State run with no federal oversight is not working for us.

Texas Governers, and legislators should be ashamed of this stat.....but of course there is a large surplus of money in the coffers, thats what Gov whatshisname bragged about....while people suffer and our schools remain unfunded....so the Gov could brag about it...I am ashamed of this.

Hmmmm, Obama tries to force a problem down everyone's throat that doesn't address everyone? No worries, his plan calls for covering 30 million more people without adding a single dr, nurse or clinic too. Yeah, no worries, his unthinking minions will simply blame the right.

***********************************Chuck, weren't you just complaining about insults on another thread? Spewing out of both sides of your blowhole?

Second, so you're saying the problem is having too many insured and not enough medical workers? Really? If 30 million more are insured, then the demand in the market should mean that more people become doctors or nurses, right? Why is that a problem?

October 17, 2013 @ 6:33 p.m.

Michael Hull

Chuck Wright via Texas Tribune on Facebook wrote:

Reports showing in Texas a 27 year old will face DOUBLE their old premiums with the new Obamacare plan. Yeah, didn't see any of these problems did we???? http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/10/enrollment-in-obamacare-exchanges-how-will-your-health-insurance-fare

*********************************************

Yea--that's the place to get objective information about the Affordable Care Act--the Heritage Foundation...hahaha

Judging from what is purported to be Greg Abbott's statement, he approves of Rafael Eduardo Cruz's efforts to undo a federal law already in effect on Health Care. It also signals he is out to curb a Supreme Court's ruling that children of undocumented workers can pay in-state tuition's. Abbott backs and supports dismantling the PPACA.(Obamacare) Today's Houston Chronicle, as reported by Peggy O'Hare, 1,046,430 Texans will be left without any health care benefits or coverage because the state of Texas chose to not expand Medicaid eligibility requirements. 1,046,430 Texans will be left out in the cold due to Rick Perry and the Texas legislature's failure to comply with federal law and implement the PPACA in Texas! Every working person paying for health insurance is going to have a higher premium in Texas. 27% of Texas' uninsured adults, who are not elderly or disabled will fall into a "coverage gap," meaning the PPACA(Obamacare) will not help them in any way! Texas has the highest uninsured residents, not including legal or undocumented immigrants. Texas has the most restrictive Medicaid eligibility requirements in the nation. These restrictions mean a two parent family with one child would have to earn a total $3,737.00 annually! The Supreme Court struck down a requirement which allowed Texas and 26 other states to set the household income limit. That is 5.2 million people across the nation will be shut out of health care benefits as states can change or set the restrictions. Restriction on who would be eligible for Medicaid at the state level is giving Republicans an outlet on saving federal monies sent to benefit the poorest of the poor! The poor will go to the E.R. for routine medical services, which will not get paid and passed onto residents as taxes in some other form! Greg Abbott's backing Rafael Eduardo Cruz's efforts shows he is grabbing for the TEA vote! Rafael Eduardo Cruz first is not a Republican - He is a TEA-type with loyalty only to the root causes of limiting government. Rafael Eduardo Cruz first is transplanted Canadian pushing to take over the Republican party! Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin openly signaled their complicity displaying the racist Confederate flag when they stormed the barricades in Washington! The confederate flag represents hatred of those who do not have white skin or look different or have a different sir-name. The confederate flag represents a deep-seeded resentment towards another because of his/her religion or faith. The confederate flag represents an attitude which has been taught by parents, peers, partners, preachers, priests, pundits or politicals. The confederate flag represents a throw-back to pre-1960's times when the n-word was used regularly and blacks were called "boy." The confederate flag represents hatred, bigotry, discrimination and slavery! Greg Abbott backs a TEA-type and he wants TEA-types to back him! Beware!

October 20, 2013 @ 8:06 p.m.

robert ball

self employed people (job creators) almost never have TAXABLE income in the early years. Thanks to our compassionate Governor they, and the unwashed masses, will still have to use the emergency room for health care. Do the arithmetic folks. SOMEBODY pays for this.THIS MEANS YOU....DUH